Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Ansan Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Ansan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,372 in Ansan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,108 in Ansan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $2,845 in Ansan.

Living in Busan is roughly 15% more expensive than in Ansan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 15% above, Ansan is 1% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$7.50 ₩10.1K

-0.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.1K

$34.19 ₩45.9K

41.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,117

$6.78 ₩9,101

0.15%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,926

$3.97 ₩5,324

-7.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ₩2,399

$1.57 ₩2,109

14.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,915

$0.77 ₩1,034

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,010

$3.48 ₩4,668

7.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,797

$4.38 ₩5,882

-1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.15 ₩2,886

5.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,307

$3.03 ₩4,062

5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,057

$2.24 ₩3,009

34.82%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,579

$3.39 ₩4,548

-21.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.81 ₩21.2K

-29.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$7.74 ₩10.4K

32.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$17.01 ₩22.8K

48.27%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.42 ₩9,959

47.57%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,956

$3.28 ₩4,408

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$5.85 ₩7,849

40.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,096

$6.38 ₩8,558

-5.49%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,800

$3.75 ₩5,031

54.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,425

$2.56 ₩3,429

28.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,715

$2.07 ₩2,784

33.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,781

$1.10 ₩1,477

20.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,531

$3.28 ₩4,404

3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.1K

$18.54 ₩24.9K

0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,169

$2.24 ₩3,010

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,669

$3.12 ₩4,189

11.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,527

$1.08 ₩1,455

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,834

$3.72 ₩4,996

-3.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩979

$0.59 ₩790

23.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$9.02 ₩12.1K

87.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,792

$1.36 ₩1,818

-1.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$29.0K ₩38.9M

1.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ₩44.2M

$27.8K ₩37.3M

18.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$203 ₩272.4K

$201 ₩269.9K

0.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$34.87 ₩46.8K

5.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$20.09 ₩27.0K

32.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.3K

$11.25 ₩15.1K

7.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$635 ₩852.2K

$297 ₩398.6K

113.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$17.7K ₩23.8M

23.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.1K

$58.8 ₩78.8K

80.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.2K

$33.28 ₩44.7K

95.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.8K

$70.7 ₩94.9K

30.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.2K

$80.7 ₩108.3K

58.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.8K

$451 ₩605.6K

61.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.4K

$371 ₩497.3K

-0.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,095 ₩1.5M

21.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩945.1K

$756 ₩1.0M

-6.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.4M

$21.7K ₩29.1M

-54.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$1,512 ₩2.0M

85.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.08

3.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Busan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ansan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $451 in Ansan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 85% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Busan vs $34.00 in Ansan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $416 per month, with Ansan cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Busan vs Ansan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ansan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 85% higher in Busan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Busan versus $451 in Ansan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $635 in Busan versus $297 in Ansan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ansan – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $48.00 in Busan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,372 in Ansan versus $1,583 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ansan but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Ansan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Busan and Ansan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ansan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.